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Winston-Salem, NC - The Forsyth Regional Cancer Center at Forsyth Medical Center was renamed The Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center today in recognition of the Winston-Salem businessmans contribution to the medical center foundation. This gift is the largest ever received by the foundation and will provide funding for a variety of programs at the cancer center.

Davis, whose family includes cancer survivors, is chief executive officer of D.L. Davis & Company one of the Southeasts leading executive and employee benefit companies. He also has been instrumental in the development and restoration of the Brookstown area of Winston-Salem and the southeast gateway redevelopment project. Davis was born in Asheville and has lived in Winston-Salem for 54 years.

"My family has many close connections to Forsyth Medical Center," Davis says. "My wife was a pediatric nurse here for several years and many close friends and relatives have received excellent care at Forsyth. Most people are unaware of the remarkable things that are going on at the cancer center. I hope this gift will not only help tell that story, but provide the resources to do even more for our community."

Davis says the decision to make a significant contribution was a family decision because it is a way to give something back to the community."My wife, son and daughter all agreed this was something we wanted to do and that it would mean a lot to this community which has been so generous to us," he says.

Novant Health President and CEO Paul Wiles says the contribution will fund a number of programs that will benefit residents throughout the region.

"Derrick has asked that the specific amount of gift not be made public," Wiles says. "But I can say that his generosity will exceed our largest gift ever and allow the cancer center to expand its prevention, education and cancer patient support programs for many years to come."

The Derrick L. Davis Forsyth Regional Cancer Center is one of the largest community-based cancer diagnosis and treatment centers in North Carolina. The center diagnoses more new cancer cases each year than any other community cancer center in the region. The center offers a range of services for the prevention, early detection and treatment of virtually every type of cancer - including breast, prostate, lung and colorectal.

Forsyth Medical Center is one of seven hospitals that are part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit healthcare system based in North Carolina. In addition to Forsyth Medical Center, other hospital affiliates include Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem and Thomasville Medical Center in Thomasville; also Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte area. Other facilities and programs of Novant Health include three philanthropic foundations, two nursing home and senior residential facilities, physician clinics, outpatient surgery and diagnostic centers, rehabilitation programs and community health outreach programs.